The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband

The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband

Translated by: Oinkoink

Proofread by: Silkscreen

Chapter 1 – Jinglan 

It was the first glimmer of dawn and the sparkling crystal-clear dewdrops dangled on the leaves. A horse-drawn carriage quietly left the inn towards the official road leading to Wangdu of Country Chu.

 

It would soon be autumn. At this moment clouds were hanging low in the sky with a refreshing and pleasant temperature. A thick turquoise curtain is hanging in the horse-drawn carriage that not even a slightest shadow could be seen. The driver known as Tang Qingfeng, a tall and sturdy man, is holding the rein in one hand and dons a long sword around his waist. He looked simple and honest, yet a taut face is always visible on his face that inexplicably made him look angry and unapproachable.

 

The horse was galloping steadily along the way. The towering walls of Wangdu soon appeared in the field of vision and they could reach it in about four hours. Tang Qingfeng turned around to report to the person in the carriage who just nodded his head indistinctly.

 

A sudden burst of commotion could be heard from both sides of the maple trees forest. Tang Qingfeng immediately stopped the carriage when he sensed the abnormality and instantly gazed around. A dozen black shadows suddenly shot out from the shadow with flashes of cold gleams.

 

“Here we go again. This is already the border of Wangdu wall and they are still not giving up.” Tang Qingfeng felt half sullen and half disdain but he didn’t move as he awaits for the order of the person inside the carriage. Soon, a calm, deep and low voice reached his ears through the heavy curtain.

 

“Catch one alive this time.”

 

“Yes, Wangye.”

 

Tang Qingfeng turned around and jumped off the carriage. His thumb slightly drew out the sword’s sheath, revealing the length of a sharp luminous sword that reflected a little golden ray of the rising sun which was both dazzling and daunting. The black-clad leader inwardly thought it was worthless to fear as he looked at him standing sole in front of the carriage, hence they slowly paced and started surrounding the carriage. Tang Qingfeng coldly gazed at them and the desire to kill gradually rose but he didn’t make any move. Besides breathing, the atmosphere around was extremely strained, as if it could crack open at any time.

 

“Go!”

 

The black-clad leader suddenly called to attack and everyone immediately rushed forward, harboring murderous intentions. Tang Qingfeng bare-handedly wrestled with the one closest to the carriage, then immediately leaped towards the black-clad leader. The long sword sprung out unexpectedly and thrusted towards his chest. He raised his sword to block but who would have thought Tang Qingfeng would alter his footwork and glide behind him with a speed that simply wasn’t discernable. Turning his body sideways,he barely evaded the attack. Retreating a few steps, he stopped to signal for help, but as he looked up; his face turned pale with fright. 

 

More than a dozen shadow guards unexpectedly appeared out of thin air in the open and spacious official road.

 

All of a sudden, the previous vantage point they had earlier disappeared without a trace. Not only were they unable to get close to the carriage but were completely beaten without a chance of retaliation by the superb martial-skilled shadow guards and gradually were at a disadvantage. The black-clad leader clenched his teeth and was about to order to withdraw when a hand grabbed his shoulder as he turned around and a steel-like claw almost crushed his bones.

 

“Want to leave?”

 

The voice had barely waned off when; he felt numbness on his waist and soon after was unable to move anymore. Tang Qingfeng walked forward from behind and easily disposed of two black-clad men who came back to kill. He just stood there until the shadow guards exterminated all the black-clad men.

 

Looking at the dreadful situation, the black-clad leader immediately crushed the hidden poison between his teeth. Tang Qingfeng’s complexion slightly changed as he stretched out his hand to clamp down on the black-clad leader’s lower jaw but he was still a step too late. Red blood violently gushed out smearing his palm and the black-clad man fell to the ground kicking up countless floating dust.

 

He knitted his brows wiping his bloodied hand clean before walking to the front of the heavy curtain and reported in a low voice, “Wangye, this subordinate failed as all men are dead.” 

 

“Let it pass. Tidy up and continue the journey.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Tang Qingfeng raised his eyes and looked around. Bodies of the black-clad men were strewn everywhere, which was a total eyesore. With a hand gesture to his subordinates, as they immediately began to clear the scene. Kicking away several of the bodies that were obstructing the carriage’s path, he walked towards the black-clad leader, bent down and searched inside his clothes when by chance, a piece of silver medal dropped with a loud thump. He picked it up when his face immediately turned frigid.

 

“Have a look at this, Wangye.”

 

He held the silver medal with both his hands into the carriage. Chu Jinglan didn’t take it but lightly swept a glance at it under the penetrating light and indifferently spoke out two words, “Ye family.”

 

Tang Qingfeng nodded and a flame scuttled inside his eyes, “It is the emblem of the Ye’s.”

 

“Keep it safe. We’ll talk about it when we reach Wangdu. This ought to be the last group of assassins.” 

 

“Yes.”

 

Tang Qingfeng tucked the silver medal into his waistband, then grasped the rein and shouted at the horse which rushed towards the path ahead; while the group of shadow guards dispersed into the wood, to continue safeguarding Chu Jinglan in secret.

 

Time quietly slipped to noon and the sky was sunny and bright. The vast unending sight of Wangdu stood erect under the light blue skies that looked majestic and imposing. 

 

The open and spacious Xuanwu main street was crowded with people today. Sunlight penetrated through the fall foliage colors of the maple leaves paving the flagstone road with a layer of gold foils. Shadows of flitting wild geese swept across along the wave of the autumn wind, heading south and very soon submerged into the crowd.  

 

The imperial soldiers were standing guard like forest trees on both sides of the street. They were standing upright in armor five paces apart with silver spears overlapping above, firmly blocking the throng of the crowd. Whenever there was any unusual movement, the silver spear would strictly follow suit. The common people dared not make any rash move influenced by this powerful showdown, thus would only whisper to each other. Descendants of the noble families were naturally not among the crowd. They had earlier booked seats in the restaurants with windows facing the street that allowed them to see everything at a glance.

 

Such a grand occasion today was merely for the return of King Lan.

 

Speaking of Chu Jinglan, he was the third child of the previous emperor and was extremely favored. He entered the royal court embarking on political governance at the age of fourteen and was commended with military merits when he was eighteen; during which he was bestowed the title King. His meritorious achievements were countless that the common people regarded him as the Crown Prince. While he was at the frontier suppressing a revolt six years ago, the previous emperor died suddenly of critical illness. Before he passed away, the previous emperor appointed his eldest son, Chu Sanghuai, as Crown Prince who succeeded the throne upon his death. Since then, Chu Jinglan has not set foot in Wangdu and has been living in seclusion in Northern Land for the past six years.

 

These past years, there have been constant discussions on the unstable situation of the Chu throne appointment that year with all kinds of conjectures. The four prominent families, Wang, Xie, Bai and Ye who were involved, however, had been keeping silent all these years which led to more imaginative speculations; thus this became the most anecdotal story for the storytelling community.

 

The carriage of King Lan slowly approached from a distance while the chatting and tea drinking session continued.

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Ye Huaili was alone on the third floor of his restaurant observing the view when he suddenly heard the sound of soft footsteps behind him. He turned to look. The newcomer is wearing a cross-bun hairstyle, dressed in jade-wisp clothes, long beautiful eyebrows with mischievous eyes, and pink lips bent in a beautiful arc smiling at him.

 

“Why are you here, Yang’er?”

 

He knew very well the temperament of his younger sister. She has been tranquil unlike a girl of eighteen since taking over the position as the head of the Ye’s family. There was rarely anything that could arouse her interest and this sort of public excitement scene today was the kind that she was most unwilling to come close to. It is unbeknownst what actually attracted her unprecedented arrival to Tianque restaurant today.

 

“I am bored at home, so I come to accompany you.”

 

These words were truly pleasant to Ye Huaili’s ears, the ever solemn stony face of him was somewhat filled with contentment. He stretched his palm out and pulled Ye Huaiyang to sit beside him.

 

King Lan’s carriage was finally passing by below the restaurant at this moment. Ye Huaiyang distantly looked and though the dark grey heavy curtain obstructed everything, it couldn’t stop her visibly soft smile. Unfortunately there were noises which broke her tranquility as some unknown people on the second floor started making unscrupulous loud clamor.

 

“Didn’t this King Lan fled to the northern land in disgrace with his tail between his legs when he couldn’t grab the throne that year? Why would he dare return now?”

 

“Exactly. Look at him alone, without even a single bodyguard. Does he really think he could cause an uproar? It would certainly be good during this time of peace and prosperity, as this is a splendid opportunity to render meritorious service!”

 

The two people then uncouthly laughed out loud in unison, which sounded wanton and disgusting.

 

Ye Huaiyang’s smiling face gradually stiffened. Her body and eyes didn’t move but the coldness in her voice spread across the room, brittle like ice that none dared to intervene.

 

“Ci Yuan, chase them out.”

 

As soon as those words fell, a dark shadow flashed straight towards downstairs and not long after the noises stopped and two people – without the slightest sound of resistance – were tossed out the door

 

Ye Huaili slightly lowered his brows, “When did you care about this kind of thing?”

 

“Barking dogs are just annoying.” Ye Huaiyang remarked while her phoenix eyes half drooped.

 

“They are not necessarily just talking nonsense.” Ye Huaili gazed profoundly at the simple and unadorned carriage, “You were still young that year and didn’t know what had happened. King Lan’s return this time may have wicked intentions and should not be taken lightly.”

 

“Elder brother, I was young then but not to the extent of not being able to distinguish right from wrong.” Ye Huaiyang retracted her sight, the affectionate hue faded leaving only a touch of gleam, “Claiming back what belongs to you is not a wicked intention.”

 

“Impudent! Who taught you that?”

 

Ye Huaili, with an extremely stern look as if he was quite sensitive about this matter, stood up suddenly and reprimanded Ye Huaiyang but she just appeared unconcerned. She leisurely brushed off her sleeves when she fleetingly saw that Chu Jinglan’s carriage had driven away, she skillfully deflected his question and said, “I’ve seen the excitement and will now leave for the clan’s home. I’ll wait for you tonight to come home for dinner.”

 

She turned around after she finished the words, walked down the stairs and didn’t give Ye Huaili any chance to speak. Ye Huaili stood at the same place staring for a long time until that slender back disappeared at the end of the staircase, but the gloominess on his face did not subside.

 

What they didn’t know was that their conversations reached the carriage. Tang Qingfeng was pondering in his heart how interesting the little girl was since she mentioned his clan and wondered which prominent family was she from? He just merely wondered but in the end he didn’t turn his head to verify. His expression was still solemnly cold, like a forbidden giant, guarding against  probing eyes and obstructing any disturbances from affecting Chu Jinglan.

 

He somehow forgot that Chu Jinglan’s martial arts was far greater than his, thus if he was able to hear the conversation from the restaurant, Chu Jinglan was without exception too.

 

Wicked intention….

 

Chu Jinglan silently put down the scroll in his hand and the dark-brown hawk-eyes swept outside the window.  Looking at the bustling scene and the people similar to deep shadows seen in a picture scroll under the gloomy light, that one could only distinguish the outlines but not the colors giving an indescribable sense of blindness and dullness. He tightened his thin lips and did not utter a word yet struggled to suppress the surging huge waves in his heart.

 

He is finally back again after six years.